What is American mahjong?

American mahjong (often associated with the National Mah Jongg League) is a four-player tile game that uses a yearly hands card, jokers, and a tile-passing phase called the Charleston. It differs from many Chinese and Japanese variants.

What is the Charleston?

The Charleston is a structured pass of tiles among players at the start of a hand so everyone can reshape their starting tiles before play continues.

Do American mahjong sets need jokers?

Yes for standard American / NMJL-style play. Complete American sets typically include jokers (often around 8–10) plus blanks. Always check the listing.

American mahjong rules — beginner overview

This is a high-level intro for people shopping for an American mahjong set. We do not reproduce NMJL card art, hand lists, or card wording. For official rules and the current card, use the National Mah Jongg League and your teacher or club.

How American mahjong differs

American mahjong (often called Mah Jongg in League materials) is usually played by four people with racks. Compared with many Chinese or Japanese styles, American play typically:

Uses a 166-tile set that includes jokers (and often blanks).
Follows a published annual hands card (what combinations score that year).
Starts each hand with the Charleston — a structured pass of tiles.

The Charleston (concept only)

Before drawing from the wall, players pass tiles in a set sequence so everyone can improve their starting hand. Exact pass counts and “across / left / right” order belong in official or teacher materials — learn them from a club, book, or the League, not from a product blog.

Jokers

Jokers are wild tiles used under League-style rules. When you buy a set, confirm the listing shows enough jokers for American play (many kits advertise 8 or 10). Our catalog filters let you require a minimum joker count.

The NMJL card (high level)

Each year the National Mah Jongg League publishes a card that lists the hands in play. Players buy a new card for the season; large-print editions exist for readability. We never show card faces, hand names from the card, or scoring tables. Order through reputable channels and verify deadlines on official or charity sites — see our 2027 card guide.

Copyright note: NMJL card content is protected. This site only discusses the idea of a yearly card and where to buy gear. Official site: nationalmahjonggleague.org.

What to buy as a beginner

A 166-tile American set with jokers (soft bag kits are fine to start).
Racks (often included). Check length vs tile height with the size checker.
A current year card from a legitimate seller when you join a group.

Budget ideas: best American mahjong sets by budget. Browse everything: sets catalog.

Next steps

Browse sets Check tile / rack fit